Mormons; why don't you have crosses in your churches?

[Publisher]

Okay but, a cross or a crusifix is prayed onto daily, so it does have a very serious meaning and symbolic purpose, Publisher…

I take my rosaries and crusifixes very serious when I pray unto them but I’m sure you know about all this…

As I said, using symbols is not a problem…but the reality of those symbols displayed in one’s life is better. Substituting “symbols” for “reality” is to miss the point of the symbol.
That you use them to enhance your spiritual life is wonderful…that some do not find using such symbols helpful does not mean the “reality” of such symbols is missing from onee life. One can have a rich and meaningful prayerlife without the use of a rosary or prayer rope…or a cross or crucifix…or a staue or icon.

Perhaps I read too much into the OP…what I understood was that a lack of such images and symbols somehow indicated a “lack” in the spiritual life of Mormons…something which I have not found in my own…nor in the Mormons I have known.

 

[Zundrah]

You’re cracking me up. :tsktsk:

To the question, Mormons pretty much reject anything that might make them look like an abominable Christian church, especially when it has Catholic origins.

Yep, yep, mormons say that they are the one true church so obviously they want to out do the chatholics! No, I wont let them! I may be protestant but we must stand together against these cults! Amen!

 

[Jesus_123]

**+ I posted this on another thread . . . thought it might help here . . . **

• … I was raised as a child in the heart of “Mormon” country here in the United States … Though I knew many Mormons as friends in school and our neighborhood . . . their belief system is known to Catholics and Protestants alike essentially as a CULT . . . and it is an immensely large one . . . and their understandings, definitions and usage of the same religious and scriptural words are RADICALLY different . . .

Definition:

 

[Zundrah]

**+ I posted this on another thread . . . thought it might help here . . . **

Thank you for this!

xxx zundrah xxx

 

[RebeccaJ]

Cult is generally not a very useful word when talking with Mormons. I tend to agree that it has charged up, general, insult-intent to it. (Though, in some Mormon practices I believe it is accurate.)

That aside, the more I study up on gnosticism, the more I see that Mormonism is, gnostic. ie, using Christian words and applying a different meaning, was also a gnostic practice. I agree with your warning, as gnosticism was a “fungus at the root” of early Christianity, for 500 years.

The best remedy for this, are the facts. Those being, the gnostic heresy of the early Church, and the errors in Mormonism, all lack apostolic roots. There is not a teaching of the Apostles that indicates Mormonism is rooted in the correct Faith. The “secret” knowledge of gnosticism and Mormonism is nothing more than a regression from truth, towards paganism (also at the root of gnosticism).

 

[Zundrah]

This is how I see it;

Protestant split away from the pope out of a dispute of doctrines, but mormons didn’t even split up from them, but instead they just made up their own faith because they wanted to have the AUTHORITY!.. A new prophet, a new church… ect

Mormons; they want us to believe thast christ wasn’t good enough but their “Joseph Smith” came and saved the day! What a load of “gobbledy goop”!

Just because protestants split from the pope, that doesn’t mean that I’m going to believe what some cult says over the catholic church! I know who I would rather trust!

 

[Zundrah]

RebeccaJ;5446357]Cult is generally not a very useful word when talking with Mormons. I tend to agree that it has charged up, general, insult-intent to it. (Though, in some Mormon practices I believe it is accurate.)

That aside, the more I study up on gnosticism, the more I see that Mormonism is, gnostic. ie, using Christian words and applying a different meaning, was also a gnostic practice. I agree with your warning, as gnosticism was a “fungus at the root” of early Christianity, for 500 years.

The best remedy for this, are the facts. Those being, the gnostic heresy of the early Church, and the errors in Mormonism, all lack apostolic roots. There is not a teaching of the Apostles that indicates Mormonism is rooted in the correct Faith. The “secret” knowledge of gnosticism and Mormonism is nothing more than a regression from truth, towards paganism (also at the root of gnosticism).

Yeah your right there!

 

[Zundrah]

As I said, using symbols is not a problem…but the reality of those symbols displayed in one’s life is better. Substituting “symbols” for “reality” is to miss the point of the symbol.
That you use them to enhance your spiritual life is wonderful…that some do not find using such symbols helpful does not mean the “reality” of such symbols is missing from onee life. One can have a rich and meaningful prayerlife without the use of a rosary or prayer rope…or a cross or crucifix…or a staue or icon.

Perhaps I read too much into the OP…what I understood was that a lack of such images and symbols somehow indicated a “lack” in the spiritual life of Mormons…something which I have not found in my own…nor in the Mormons I have known.

Are you a mormon, Publisher?

 

[Publisher]

Are you a mormon, Publisher?

No Friend Zundrah, I am a Quaker.

 

[Zundrah]

No Friend Zundrah, I am a Quaker.

…is this a joke? What is a quaker? Is it another protestant denomination? I’m a methodist!

 

[sweetnay]

ParkerD-do you worship Jesus as you worship Heavenly Father? Please explain why or why not. Thx

 

[Publisher]

…is this a joke? What is a quaker? Is it another protestant denomination? I’m a methodist!

No, it’s not a “joke”…I am a member of the Religious Society of Friends. We have also been called “Quakers”. We are a religious movement that has it’s roots in 17th century England.

 

[Zundrah]

No, it’s not a “joke”…I am a member of the Religious Society of Friends. We have also been called “Quakers”. We are a religious movement that has it’s roots in 17th century England.

…Christian? Is it like catholicism or protestants?

 

[Zundrah]

ParkerD-do you worship Jesus as you worship Heavenly Father? Please explain why or why not. Thx

Sween, here’s some help for you, click on ParkerD’s name and send him a private message with all your questions!
That’s what I always do!
xxx zundrah xxx

 

[ParkerD]

ParkerD-do you worship Jesus as you worship Heavenly Father? Please explain why or why not. Thx

Sweetnay,
I worship Jesus, but not in the same way I worship Heavenly Father, because Jesus taught those who read the Bible or who listened to Him, to pray to Father in Heaven, and because He himself prayed to Father in Heaven so I think it’s important to follow His example and His personal teaching. I have no doubt that when I am in the physical presence of Jesus Christ, I will kneel at His feet and worship Him just as I feel to worship Him in my heart as I pray to Father in Heaven in His name.

 

[Publisher]

…Christian? Is it like catholicism or protestants?

“Christian?” That would depend on who you ask. We have been told we are not Christian since we do not practice “outward signs” or rituals. We historically have had a Christocentric theology even though we believe God can use other belief systems to make Himself known.

We range from extreme liberal to extreme conservative. You may wish to do a web search on “Quaker beliefs” or “Society of Friends”.

We would most likely be at one end of the spectrum with Catholics and Orthodox at the other end with other Protestant groups somewhere falling in the middle.

 

[Zundrah]

“Christian?” That would depend on who you ask. We have been told we are not Christian since we do not practice “outward signs” or rituals. We historically have had a Christocentric theology even though we believe God can use other belief systems to make Himself known.

We range from extreme liberal to extreme conservative. You may wish to do a web search on “Quaker beliefs” or “Society of Friends”.

We would most likely be at one end of the spectrum with Catholics and Orthodox at the other end with other Protestant groups somewhere falling in the middle.

:whacky: But you believe that Jesus was the Son of God right? …that he is the Christ, our saviour? …please say yes…(your not like mormons are you?)

 

[dianaiad]

That’s not very charitable at all, and in part kind of true, a Cross without a Corpus, the body of Christ is kind of just that, an execution device. A cross with the body of Christ depicted on it, now that points back our salvation and, like St. Paul said, help us preach Christ crucified.

A symbol is what the people using it say it is. To Catholics, evidently, the crucifix (with Christ depicted upon the cross) is symbolic of Christ’s sacrifice for us: His atonement/crucifixion.

Mormons do not use the crucifix because, while we do indeed deeply believe in the atonement and His suffering upon the cross, we also understand that He didn’t STAY there; He was taken from the cross, and on the third day following, arose from the grave, was resurrected and ascended to heaven.

Protestants use the empty cross to symbolize just that; the crucifixion and the atonement, acknowledging that He did indeed not stay there; He is not on the cross now.

Mormons have a two fold reaction to the cross; on one hand, we do see it as a depiction of His execution, and would rather concentrate on the entire accomplishment of the Atonement; the cross surmounted. On the other, because we do NOT use it every day, or display it on our walls, homes and persons, every time we do see one, it is a shock; we are brought immediately to the reality of His suffering; it is fresh and meaningful. It is, in other words, too sacred for us to use as an accessory.

So we don’t. This does not mean that everybody who does display the cross, or wear them as earrings or necklaces is somehow disrespectful or evil; it does not. It simply means that we have different ideas of how to deal with it.

Our temples, as has been noted elsewhere on this thread, are full of symbolism…and if anyone thinks that this symbolism is not Christ centered, he should go walk through one of the Temple visitor centers. As well, in my own meetinghouse there are many, many paintings and prints on the walls–some of them are Book of Mormon scenes, certainly, but the vast majority of them are of Jesus Christ; Jesus teaching, Jesus ascending, Jesus walking, with the children.

 

[dianaiad]

No meeting house of un-programmed Friends have a cross or pictures either. Many programmed Friends church houses have no cross.

Having a cross on one’s building…or around one’s neck…or upon one’s wall does not make one a Christian…nor does it in any way indicate that one lives a Godly life nor does it indicate a life of prayer is present.

Showing charity, speaking with kindness, loving responses toward others, seeking to hold the dignity of others above our own are more indicative of a “Christian life” than the presence of a cross in the vicinity.

What’s the difference between an 'un-programmed" Friend and a “programmed” one? Where can I go find out?

Diana

 

[Publisher]

:whacky: But you believe that Jesus was the Son of God right? …that he is the Christ, our saviour? …please say yes…(your not like mormons are you?)

I believe God was in Christ reconcilling the world to Himself. I believe the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. I believe the true Light, which enlighens every man lived among us and showed us what real love is. He loved completely and perfectly and because of that the forces of this world killed him. He now lives more surely than we do. In him is Light and Life, and it is offered freely to all mankind.

Some of us may be “like Mormons”…it depends on what you characterize Mormons as “being like”.

We believe in “being at peace with all men as far as it depends on us”.

Some of us are very liberal in belief…some of us are middle of the road…some of us are very conservative. Some of us still speak in the “plain language” and wear “plain clothing”, some of us wear bright clothes…others of us wear conservative clothes.

Searching the web would be a good place to start…we believe on seeking the answers for ourselves instead of relying on others to tell us what to believe.